Transcript Mr. Perez – OHS Physics

Introduction to Einstein’s Relativity
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Sir Isaac Newton’s calculations of gravity and
the laws of motion were definite, but he never
explained what gravity was.
Things to Consider:
 Does the acceleration of gravity (-9.81 m/s2), apply
everywhere in the universe?
 Is there gravity in space?
 What does gravity and light have in common?
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Albert Einstein knew there was more to gravity
than what Newton had discovered, but his
studies on light during the early 1900’s would
flip physics on it’s head first.
Special Relativity
 All laws of physics, including Newton’s Laws of
Motion, are the same to all observers, if the
observers are uniform in their motion (position).
 Light moves at a constant velocity; nothing moves
faster than light.
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Einstein’s viewpoints on light would put into
question Newton’s gravity.
Newton proposed that gravity was an
instantaneous force throughout space and all
bodies would be affected immediately if any
changes in gravity occurred.
Thought Experiment:
 If our sun suddenly disappeared, would we lose our
planet’s orbit before we see the “lights go out”?
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If our orbit is lost first, gravity is faster than
light, but Einstein said NO to this possibility.
Special Relativity is indisputable.
Einstein proposed that gravity actually moves at
the speed of light. This understanding lead him
to develop the idea that gravity is actually a
“fabric” that lies throughout all of space; which
includes the three dimensions (x, y & z-axis) and
the fourth dimension of time.
What is gravity?
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All objects in space, and their motion, make
ripples, curves and warps in the fabric of spacetime; which Einstein explained was gravity.
Special Relativity governs the tiny bits of light
particles (photons) – fits well with Quantum
Mechanics
General Relativity governs the extremely large
(all of space) – does not fit Quantum
Mechanics
Einstein never accepted quantum mechanics…